Flour



(No Model.) C ROEHL 3 Sheets-Sheet 1. FLDUR, MEAL, OR BEAN PAGKBR.

Patented June 10, 1890.

M IE5.

Sheets-Sheet 2.

G1. ROEHL. P LoUR, MEAL, 0R BEAN PAGKBR.

(No Model.)

Patented June 1 3 Sheets--Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

C. ROEHL. FLOUR, MEAL, 0R BEAN PAGKER. No. 429,645.

Patented JunelO, 1890.

NITED STATES 4PATENT OFFICE..

CARL ROEHL, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

FLouR, MEAL, R BRAN PACKER.-

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 429,645, dated June 10, 1890. Application filed January 13, 1890. Serial No. 336,776. (Noinodel.)

Y of the United States of America, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and usefu-l Improvements in Flour, Meal, or Bran Packers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to machines for packing oatmeal, graham, or buckwheat liour or other products of grain into small packages of special weight and size for family use 5 and it has for its object to provide such amachine in which oatmeal, pearl barley, or similar products will be packed into paper bags or pasteboard boxes, and in which the exact quantity for each package is measured off automaticallyg'and with these objects in view my invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents an elevation of one side of themachine; Fig. 2, a sectional elevation of the opposite side of the machine; and Fig, a front elevation, partly in section. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the automatic device for stopping the operation of the machine. Figs. 5 and 6 showv an end elevation and longitudinal section of the automatic package-supporting feed device, and Figs. 7 and 8 a transverse section and elevation of one of the automatic meal measures and feeders.

Corresponding referential characters on the several figures of the drawings designate like parts.

The frame'of the machine consists of two posts 1, framed into base-pieces 2, connected by a transverse board 3. Against each such post 1 is bolted an iron bracket 4, to be flush with the upper extremity of these posts, and -upon these brackets 4 is bolted aplate 5,that at one side extends beyond post 1. At the proper elevation are framed in or against posts 1 two bars 6, which support atable 7. Centrally between the posts 1 and between table 7 and base-board 3 is framed a guide-post 8 for a square bar 9, that has fixed upon its upper extremity a plate 10, for supporting the paper bag or box while being packed with meal or flour.

In standard-bearings 11, 12, and 13, secured upon plate 5, is journaled a shaft 14, having between bearings 11 and 12 a crank 15, connected by pitmanl with the upper end of a rectangular plunger 17, vertically guided in a hopper-box 1S, that is rigidly secured under plate 5. To the lower` opening of hopper 18 is secured a rect-angular tube 19, which exteriorly is of the size to enter' the paper bag or box into which meal or flour is to be packed, while its interior dimensions are somewhat larger than plunger 17.

Partitions 20 divide the hopper-box 1S from a point a short distance above the lower outlet thereof transversely into three part-s, the middle one being occupied by the plungerguides, and in the two side chambers being arranged the measure-wheels 21, each, as

shown by Figs. 7 and 8, consisting of two disks 22, connected by a cross-shaped partition 23, thus providing four'quarter-cylindrical pockets, each to contain a certain measure of meal or ii'our. Each measure-wheel 21 extends with its ends through openings in the side walls of hopper-box 1S, with its diskianges exterior of such hopper-walls moving close in the same, while its trunnions extend through central bosses of vertical bow-bars 24, secured against the sides of the hopperbox 1S. Upon the overhanging end of one of the trunnions of each measure-wheel 21 is rigidly mounted a ratchet-wheel 25, the number of teeth thereon corresponding with the number of pockets in such measure-wheel, and upon these gudgeons are also loosely mounted segmental gear-wheels 26, each carrying a pawl 27, that is in position to engage the ratchet-wheel. Another pawl 28, pivoted against hopper-box 1S, is held in contact with the ratchet-wheel 25 by a spring. By this device, as will be readily seen, an oscillating movement of segmental wheels 26 will trans- 'racks of a rectangularframe 30, having vertical guide-shanks to its middle, the lower IOC one moving in the eye of a side bracket 3l, secured to the hopper-box 18, while the upper one is passed through a slot in top plate 5, and is pivotally connected by a pitman 32 with a crank 33, mounted upon the overhanging end of shaft 14, which by rotating will vertically reciprocate frame 30, and thereby will impart an oscillating movement of a little more than a quarter-revolution to the segmental wheels 2G, which again will intermittently rotate the measure-wheels 21, thus feeding with each movement the amount of meal or flour contained in one ot' the pockets of each wheel 2l to drop into the mouth of hopper 1S and thence into the downward eX- tension 19 thereof` Upon shaft 14 is loosely pivoted a pulley 34 and is rigidly mounted a sleeve 35, provided with lugs, between which are pivoted levers 3G, the shorter ends of which extend into the pulley 34 and carry segmental friction-blocks 37. The opposite ends of levers 3G are slotted and carry small rollers 38, entering a cone 39, iitted upon shaft 14 to slide thereon. This cone 39 has an annular groove formed in its hub to engage a ring 40, pivotally coupled between the bifurcated ends of a bell-crank 4l, pivoted to a standard 42, that is rigid with plate 5. A swinging movement applied to bell-crank 41 in one direction will push the cone 39 toward pulley 34, thereby contracting the ends of levers 36 and expanding the blocks 37 against the inward face of therim, whereby the shaft 14 will then be rotated with the pulleys by frictional contact until the bell-crank 41 is swung in the opposite direction, again shifting the cone 39 to release the levers 3G, which then will be swung apart by springs 43, placed in sockets of sleeve 35 and pressing against levers 3G.

lVith the horizontal arm of bell-crank 41 is pivotally coupled the upper end of vertical bar 43, having secured against its lower portion a loop-plate 44, through which is placed a hand-lever 45, pivoted at its rear end in bracket 4G. By swinging this lever 45 downward the blocks 37 are brought into frictional contact with pulley 34, setting the machine in motion, and for the purpose of holding the bar 43 on its down position a plate 47 is secured against the lower end of such bar 43, which plate has a shoulder 4S, that will swing under a projecting lug of a plate 49, screwed against a side plank 50, which is framed against one of the posts l below table 7. For uncoupling shaft 14 from pulley o4, a spring 5l, suspended to plate 5 of the frame and coupled with its lower end to a stud "2 of bar 43, will lift such bar when released, thereby shifting the cone 39 toward standard-bearing 12.

The square bar 9, supporting plate 1.0, being guided in groovcd post 3, is counterbalanced bya weight 53, suspended to a cord 54, passed over a pulley and secured to the lower end of such bar 9, this weight 53 being sufficiently heavy to lift baril) and platev 10 when released. Against the front face of bar 9 is secured a bracket 5G, providing a pedal thereto for the operator to lower plate 10 by foot-pressu re, and against the rear face oi bar 9 is secured a rack-bar 57, meshing with a pinion 5S, mounted upon one end ot' shaft 59, upon the opposite end of which is mounted a brake-wheel GO, embraced by a strap (il, with its ends coupled to the two arms of a bell crank 62, pivoted to bracket 49. The extreme end of the horizontal arm ol this bell-crank (l2 is coupled with a spiral spring `63, connected with its lower end to a stud-plate 64, secured against the post l of the fram e. The tension of this spring 63 will draw strap (il tight around wheel G0, thus providing a brake the frietional resistance of which maybe regulated to be more or less. This brake will allow the plate 10 to be pushed downward as a package is being iilled and packed by plunger 17.

For the purpose of releasing the bar 9, with plate 10, ot' its frictional hold, the shaft 59 is journaled in an eccentrieally-bored sleeve 65, journaled in bearings G6 and G7, secured upon table 7, and this sleeve G5 has mounted upon one end a pinion GS, meshing with a rack G9, secured against the edge of bar 43, so that a vertical movement of such bar 43 will rotate sleeve (l5, so that a down movement of bar 43 will move pinion 53 into gea-r with rack-bar 57, and that an up movement of such bar 43 will move pinion 53 out of gearwith rack-bar 57, by which device the throwing in gear of the friction-clutch for driving shaft 14 will at the same time couple the brake for resisting or holding bar 9 with plate 10, and vice versa.

For automatically stopping the machine after a package has been completed, an arm 7 0 is adjustably secured against the boltingplate of bracket 5G, which arm 70 has a beveled end,wl1ich, as it moves downward with the bar 9,- will come into contact with the beveled end of a side projection 7l ot plate 47 of bar 43, pushing said plate sidewise, so that its shoulder 48 is released from lug 49, when said bar 43 will be free to be lifted by spring 51 for automatically disconnecting the fric tionseoupling to pulley 34, and at the same time releasing the bar 9 from its brake.

Upon one corner ot' table 7 is secured a plate 72, having hinged thereto two vertical plates 73, connected at about their middle by a toggle-joint 74, held to its straightened position by a spiral spring 75, butting with its ends against plate 7 2 and the central joint of toggle 74, and to this central joint of toggle 74 is coupled a vertical rod 7G, extending through spring 75 and through a hole in plate 72 and table 7, and connected with its lower end to a pedal 77, which, when depressed, will swing the plates 73 toward and against each other, and when said pedal 77 is released the spring 75 will lift it again, and by means of toggle 74 it will push the plates 73 apart.

TOO

IIO

These plates 73 are of proper width, and are hinged a proper distance apart for the exact dimensions of the paper bags to be filled with meal or flour, so that if a paper bag be drawn over these plates 73 while contracted the releasing of the pedal 77 will cause spring 75 and toggles 74 to separate the plates 7 3,- and thereby expand the paper bag to the shape and size it will have after being filled with meal or fiour. f

A series of boxes are provided for sustaining the paper bag while being packed with meal or flour, which boxes are made each in two sections 78 and 79 of equal size, the section 78 being rigid with the bottom 80, to which the section 79 is secured by hinges, so that it may open outward. These sections 78 and 79 are locked together at their upper ends by a lever 8l, pivoted with one end to the rigid section 78, and notched near its opposite end to engage a stud 82 of section 7 9, which lever end at the same time provides the handle. This box when thus closed is interiorly of the exact shape and dimensions of the expanded. paper bag, and after a bag has been drawn over plates 73 a box 78 79 is placed over it upside down, when by releasing pedal 77 said bag will be expanded in the box in-a manner to appear as a lining thereof, and then said box is turned to its proper position again to be placed upon plate 10 for filling and packing the bag with meal or flour.

- Each such box is provided with two handles 83, one to each section 78 and 79.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The machine being uncoupled from pullej7 34, running loose upon shaft 14, the operator will put his foot upon pedal 56, thereby lowering the plate 10. He will next place the box 78 79 with the paper bag therein over tube 19, and then he will release pedal 56 and will swing the lever 45 downward until shoulder 48 of plate 47 of the bar 43 will catch below lug 49, whereby the shaft 14 will become coupled with the pulley 34. Now, the upper pockets of the measure-wheels 21, being` filled with meal or flour, by being intermittently rotated will empty into the hopper 18, and the meal or flour thus discharged therein from both wheels will enter tube 19, to rest upon the bottom of the paper bag, and then the plunger 17,being reciprocated into this tube 19, will compress the meal or flour in the paper bag, which while being filled will be-pushed downward with the plate 10 and bar 9, that support it, and the brake 60 and ley 34, which latter will then run loose again This operation automatically' upon said shaft.

box 78 79, to be removed and replaced byanother box containing a paper bag that is to go through the same4 operation again. Afterihe upper edges of bag have been folded for closing said bag the lever 81 is lifted, when sectionv 79 of the box can be swung open for removing the package.

For the purpose of regulating the capacity of the pockets in the measure-wheels v21, l provide each pocket with a plate 84,'conn'ected by. a hinge-plate 85 to the exterior end of a wing 23, and coupled with its inner end to a slotted plate 86, adj ustably secured against the face of the other wing by two or'more thumb-screws 87. The plates 84 occupying' the entire'width between disks 22, a more or f less angular adjustment of these plates 84 will regulate the exact quantity ofmeal or flour each such cavity or pocket is to hold. Y

1. In a packer, the combination of ahopper having a lower tubular extension, and a plunger vertically reciprocated therein, with a movable bar having a rack on one side and a bag-supporting plate mounted thereon, and a brake for yieldingly resisting downward pressure, said brake having a pinion for engaging the rack,in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination, with a reciprocating plunger 17 and tube 19, of bar 9,'wit-h plate 10 and rack-bar 57, shaft 59, vwith pinion 58 and brake-wheel 60, strap 61, bell-crank 62, and spring 63, all arranged substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination, with reciprocating plunger 17 and tube 19, of bar 9, with plate 10 and rack-bar 57, pinion 58 and brake-wheel 60, shaft 59, on which the wheel 60 is mounted, bored sleeve 65, in which shaft 59 is eccentrically pivoted, pinion 68, meshing with rack 69, bar 43, lever 45 for reciprocating bar 43, and strap 61, bell-crank 62, and spring 63, all substantially as set fort-h.

4. Inamachineforthepurposedescribed,the combination, with a hopper havin glower tubular extension 19, and a plunger 17, mounted and reciprocated in said hopper, of a bar 9, having a plate 10, rack-bar 57, and arm 70, a transverse shaft 59, having a brake-wheel 60 and a pinion 58 mounted upon it, an eccentrically-bored sleeve 65, in which the shaft 59 Now theoperator will put p his foot upon treadle 56`again for clearing- IOC IIO

is mounted, a pinion 68, mounted on said' connection therewith, of a measuring-Wheel having partitions or Wings dividing it into segmental pockets, a plate Si, hinged at the outer edge of each partition or Wing and extending down the side of the partition or Wing and having a slotted angle-plate 8G, connected to the inner edge thereof and extending out upon the opposing face of the next Wing or partition, andl a set-screwT operating through the slot, as set forth.

6. In a machine for the purpose described, the combination, with crank-shaf t 14:, pitman 1t, and plunger 17, of hopper-box 18, Wheels 2l, pivoted in such hopper-box and each pl'ovided with cavities, ratchet-Wheels 25, rigidly mounted upon the 0fudgeons of wheels 21, segmental Wheels 20, loosely mounted upon these gudgeons and each carrying a pawl 27, engaging ratchet-Wheels 25, and frame 30, having racks toits sides meshing the teeth of the segmental Wheels, and a crank 33 and pitman 32 l'or reciprocating said frame, as set forth.

7. In combination with a machine substan- In testimony whereof I affix my signature 3o in presence of two Witnesses.

CARL ROEHL. \Vitnesses:

WILLIAM Il. Lorz, )Tro LUEBKERT, 

